Wireless communication device, a network node and methods therein for improved random access

ABSTRACT

Embodiments herein relate to a communication device and a method performed by the communication device for enabling improved random access transmissions in a radio communications network. The communication device obtains information indicating a first random access channel configuration and also obtains information indicating at least a second random access channel configuration. Then, the communication device determine whether or not the at least second random access channel configuration is orthogonal to the first random access channel configuration. Furthermore, the communication device uses the result of the determining to determine the time required by the communication device to configure the at least second cell. 
     Embodiments herein also relate to a first network node and a method therein for enabling improved random access transmissions in a radio communications network.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments herein relate to random access transmissions in a radiocommunications network. In particular, embodiments herein relate to awireless communication device and a method therein for enabling improvedrandom access transmissions in a radio communications network.Furthermore, embodiments herein also relate to a network node and methodtherein for enabling improved random access transmissions in a radiocommunications network.

BACKGROUND

In a typical radio communications network, wireless terminals, alsoknown as mobile stations, terminals and/or user equipments, UEs,communicate via a Radio Access Network, RAN, to one or more corenetworks. The radio access network covers a geographical area which isdivided into cell areas, with each cell area being served by a basestation or network node, e.g. a radio base station, RBS, which in somenetworks may also be referred to as, for example, “NodeB”, “eNB” or“eNodeB”.

A Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, UMTS, is a thirdgeneration mobile communication system, which evolved from the secondgeneration, 2G, Global

System for Mobile Communications, GSM. The UMTS terrestrial radio accessnetwork, UTRAN, is essentially a RAN using wideband code divisionmultiple access, WCDMA, and/or High Speed Packet Access, HSPA, for userequipments. In a forum known as the Third Generation PartnershipProject, 3GPP, telecommunications suppliers propose and agree uponstandards for third generation networks and UTRAN specifically, andinvestigate enhanced data rate and radio capacity. In some versions ofthe RAN as e.g. in UMTS, several base stations may be connected, e.g.,by landlines or microwave, to a controller node, such as a radio networkcontroller, RNC, or a base station controller, BSC, which supervises andcoordinates various activities of the plural base stations/network nodesconnected thereto. The RNCs are typically connected to one or more corenetworks.

Specifications for the Evolved Packet System, EPS, have been completedwithin the 3^(rd) Generation Partnership Project, 3GPP, and this workcontinues in the coming 3GPP releases. The EPS comprises the EvolvedUniversal Terrestrial Radio Access Network, E-UTRAN, also known as theLong Term Evolution, LTE, radio access, and the Evolved Packet Core,EPC, also known as System Architecture Evolution, SAE, core network.E-UTRAN/LTE is a variant of a 3GPP radio access technology wherein theradio base station nodes are directly connected to the EPC core networkrather than to RNCs. In general, in E-UTRAN/LTE the functions of a RNCare distributed between the radio base stations nodes, e.g. eNodeBs inLTE, and the core network. As such, the Radio Access Network, RAN, of anEPS has an essentially flat architecture comprising radio base stationnodes without reporting to RNCs.

Random Access

In LTE, as in any communication system, a wireless communication devicemay need to contact the network, via the base station (eNodeB), withouthaving a dedicated resource in the uplink, UL, i.e. from a wirelesscommunication device to a base station. To handle this, a random accessprocedure is available where a wireless communication device that doesnot have a dedicated UL resource may transmit a signal to the basestation. The first message of this procedure is typically transmitted ona special resource reserved for random access, a physical random accesschannel, PRACH. This channel may for instance be limited in time and/orfrequency, as in LTE. This is illustrated in FIG. 1. The resourcesavailable for PRACH transmission is provided to the terminals as part ofthe broadcasted system information in system information block 2 (SIB-2)(or as part of dedicated RRC signaling in case of e.g. handover).

The resources consist of a preamble sequence and a time/frequencyresource. In each cell, there are 64 preamble sequences available. Twosubsets of the 64 sequences are defined, where the set of sequences ineach subset is signaled as part of the system information. Whenperforming a (contention-based) random-access attempt, the terminalselects at random one sequence in one of the subsets. As long as noother terminal is performing a random-access attempt using the samesequence at the same time instant, no collisions will occur and theattempt will, with a high likelihood, be detected by the eNodeB.

In LTE, the random access procedure may be used for a number ofdifferent reasons. Among these reasons are, for example: initial access(for wireless communication devices in the RRC_IDLE state), incominghandover, resynchronization of the UL, scheduling request (for awireless communication device that is not allocated any other resourcefor contacting the base station), positioning, etc.

FIG. 2 illustrates the contention-based random access procedure used inLTE Rel-10, i.e. shows signalling over the air interface for thecontention-based random access procedure in LTE.

The wireless communication device starts the random access procedure byrandomly selecting one of the preambles available for contention-basedrandom access. The wireless communication device then transmits theselected random access preamble on the physical random access channel(PRACH) to eNodeB in RAN. RACH is a transport channel which istransmitted by the wireless communication device over PRACH.

The RAN acknowledges any preamble it detects by transmitting a randomaccess response (MSG2) including an initial grant to be used on theuplink shared channel, a temporary C-RNTI (TC-RNTI), and a timealignment (TA) update based on the timing offset of the preamblemeasured by the eNodeB on the PRACH. The MSG2 is transmitted in the DLto the wireless communication device using the PDSCH and itscorresponding PDCCH message that schedules the PDSCH contains a cyclicredundancy check (CRC) which is scrambled with the RA-RNTI. Whenreceiving the response the wireless communication device uses the grantto transmit a message (MSG3) that in part is used to trigger theestablishment of radio resource control and in part to uniquely identifythe wireless communication device on the common channels of the cell.The timing alignment command provided in the random access response isapplied in the UL transmission in MSG3. In addition, the eNB may alsochange the resources blocks that are assigned for a MSG3 transmission bysending an UL grant that has its CRC scrambled with the TC-RNTI whichwas included in MSG2. In this case the PDCCH is used, to transmit theDCI containing the uplink grant. The MSG4, which is then contentionresolving, has its PDCCH CRC scrambled with the C-RNTI if the wirelesscommunication device previously has a C-RNTI assigned. If the wirelesscommunication device does not have a C-RNTI previously assigned, it hasits PDCCH CRC is scrambled with the TC-RNTI obtained from MSG2. Theprocedure ends with RAN solving any preamble contention that may haveoccurred for the case that multiple wireless communication devicestransmitted the same preamble at the same time. This may occur sinceeach wireless communication device randomly selects when to transmit andwhich preamble to use. If multiple wireless communication devices selectthe same preamble for the transmission on RACH, there will be contentionbetween these wireless communication devices that needs to be resolvedthrough the contention resolution message (MSG4).

The case when contention occurs is illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 3illustrates contention based random access, where there is contentionbetween two wireless communication devices. Here, two wirelesscommunication devices transmit the same preamble, p₅, at the same time.A third wireless communication device also transmits at the same timeand the same RACH, but since it transmits with a different preamble, pi,there is no contention between this wireless communication device andthe other two wireless communication devices.

The wireless communication device may also perform non-contention basedrandom access. A non-contention based random access or contention freerandom access may e.g. be initiated by the eNB to get the wirelesscommunication device to achieve synchronisation in UL. The eNB initiatesa non-contention based random access either by sending a PDCCH order orindicating it in an RRC message. The later of the two is used in case ofHO.

The eNB may also order the wireless communication device through a PDCCHmessage to perform a contention based random access; the procedure forthis is illustrated in FIG. 3. The procedure for the wirelesscommunication device to perform contention free random access isillustrated below in FIG. 4. Similar to the contention based randomaccess the MSG2 is transmitted in the DL to the wireless communicationdevice and its corresponding PDCCH message CRC is scrambled with theRA-RNTI. The wireless communication device considers the contentionresolution successfully completed after it has received MSG2successfully. For the contention free random access as for thecontention based random access does the MSG2 contain a timing alignmentvalue. This enables the eNB to set the initial/updated timing accordingto the wireless communication devices transmitted preamble.

FIG. 4 shows signalling over the air interface for the contention-freerandom access procedure in LTE.

Dual Connectivity

A dual connectivity framework is currently being considered for LTERel-12. Dual Connectivity, DC, refers to the operation where a givenwireless communication device consumes radio resources provided by atleast two different network points, i.e. a Master eNB, MeNB, and aSecondary eNB, SeNB, connected with non-ideal backhaul while inRRC_CONNECTED. A wireless communication device in dual connectivitymaintains simultaneous connections to anchor and booster nodes, wherethe MeNB is interchangeably called an anchor node is and the SeNB isinterchangeably called a booster node. As the name implies, the MeNBcontrols the connection and handover of SeNB. No SeNB standalonehandover is defined for Rel-12. Signaling in MeNB is needed even in SeNBchange. Both the anchor node and booster node may terminate the controlplane connection towards the wireless communication device and may thusbe the controlling nodes of the wireless communication device.

The wireless communication device reads system information from theanchor node. In addition to the anchor node, the wireless communicationdevice may be connected to one or several booster nodes for added userplane support. The MeNB and SeNB are connected via the Xn interface,which is currently selected to be the same as the X2 interface betweentwo eNBs.

More specifically dual connectivity (DC) is a mode of operation of awireless communication device in RRC_CONNECTED state, where the wirelesscommunication device is configured with a Master Cell Group (MCG) and aSecondary Cell Group (SCG). Cell Group (CG) is a group of serving cellsassociated with either the MeNB or the SeNB.

The MCG and SCG are defined as follows:

-   -   Master Cell Group (MCG) is a group of serving cells associated        with the MeNB, comprising of the PCell and optionally one or        more SCells.    -   Secondary Cell Group (SCG) is a group of serving cells        associated with the SeNB comprising of PSCell (Primary SCell)        and optionally one or more SCells

Master eNB is the eNB which terminates at least S1-MME. Secondary eNB isthe eNB that is providing additional radio resources for the wirelesscommunication device but is not the Master eNB.

FIG. 5 illustrates a dual connectivity deployment scenario. Here, a dualconnectivity setup is described. In this example, only one SeNB isconnected to wireless communication device, however, more than one SeNBmay serve the wireless communication device in general. As shown in FIG.5, it is also clear that dual connectivity is a specific feature of thewireless communication device and a network node may support a dualconnected wireless communication device and a legacy wirelesscommunication device at the same time. As mentioned earlier, the anchorand booster roles are defined from a point of view of the wirelesscommunication device. This means that a node that acts as an anchor toone wireless communication device may act as booster to another wirelesscommunication device. Similarly, though the wireless communicationdevice reads the system information from the anchor node, a node actingas a booster to one wireless communication device, may or may notdistribute system information to another wireless communication device.It is worth mentioning here that, we have used anchor node and MeNB withinterchangeable meaning, similarly, SeNB and booster node is also usedinterchangeably in the document.

MeNB may provide system information, terminate control plane and mayalso terminate user plane. SeNB may terminate control plane and may alsoterminate only user plane.

In one implementation, dual connectivity allows a wireless communicationdevice to be connected to two nodes to receive data from both nodes toincrease its data rate. This user plane aggregation achieves similarbenefits as carrier aggregation using network nodes that are notconnected by low-latency backhaul/network connection, also referred toas an ideal backhaul. Due to this lack of low-latency backhaul, thescheduling and HARQ-ACK feedback from the wireless communication deviceto each of the nodes will need to be performed separately. That is, itis expected that the wireless communication device shall have two ULtransmitters to transmit UL control and data to the connected nodes.

PSCell activation in dual connectivity

In dual connectivity the wireless communication device is connected totwo eNodeBs simultaneously, i.e. to MeNB and SeNB. Each of them may haveone or more associated SCells which may be configured for downlink (DL)Carrier Aggregation (CA) operation, or downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) CAoperation. The SCells are time-aligned to the MeNB and SeNB,respectively, but the MeNB and SeNB may or may not be time aligned withrespect to frame timing and/or Serial Frame Number, SFN. Two modes ofoperation are defined:

-   -   Synchronized operation, where the downlink frame time difference        between PCell and PSCell is within ±33 us, and    -   Unsynchronized operation, where the time difference between        PCell and PSCell is arbitrary but limited to 0.5 ms.

With respect the PSCell it has been agreed that the PSCell is configuredby the PCell (i.e. by MeNB), and that the PSCell is activated at theconfiguration and cannot be deactivated by MeNB or SeNB. Configurationand simultaneous activation of PSCell is done by MeNB, but otherwise theMeNB and SeNB operate the wireless communication device independently.Particularly, when the wireless communication device gets the SeNBactivated it first has to carry out random access towards PSCell toestablish a connection and get allocations so that it may send a firstCQI report indicating the quality of the link as well as confirming thatthe activation has been successful.

SUMMARY

It is an object of embodiments herein to improve random accesstransmissions in a radio communications network.

According to a first aspect of embodiments herein, the object isachieved by a method performed by a communication device for enablingimproved random access transmissions in a radio communications network.The communication device is configurable for dual connectivity in afirst cell of a first network node and at least a second cell of atleast a second network node. The communication device obtainsinformation indicating a first random access channel configuration usedin the first cell. Also, the communication device obtains informationindicating at least a second random access channel configuration used inthe at least second cell. Then, the communication device determinewhether or not the at least second random access channel configurationis orthogonal to the first random access channel configuration.Furthermore, the communication device uses the result of the determiningto determine the time required by the communication device to configurethe at least second cell.

According to a second aspect of embodiments herein, the object isachieved by a communication device for enabling improved random accesstransmissions in a radio communications network, wherein thecommunication device is configurable for dual connectivity in a firstcell of a first network node and at least a second cell of at least asecond network node. The communication device is configured to obtaininformation indicating a first random access channel configuration usedin the first cell, obtain information indicating at least a secondrandom access channel configuration used in the at least second cell,determine whether or not the at least second random access channelconfiguration is orthogonal to the first random access channelconfiguration, and use the result of the determining to determine thetime required by the communication device to configure the at leastsecond cell.

According to a third aspect of embodiments herein, the object isachieved by a method performed by a first network node for enablingimproved random access transmissions of a communication device in aradio communications network, wherein the communication device isconfigurable for dual connectivity in a first cell of the first networknode and at least a second cell of at least a second network node. Thefirst network node obtains information indicating at least a secondrandom access channel configuration used in the at least second cell.Then, the first network node determines whether or not the at leastsecond random access channel configuration is orthogonal to a firstrandom access channel configuration in the first cell. Also, the firstnetwork node uses the result of the determining to determine the timerequired by the communication device to configure the at least secondcell.

According to a fourth aspect of embodiments herein, the object isachieved by a first network node for enabling improved random accesstransmissions of a communication device in a radio communicationsnetwork, wherein the communication device is configurable for dualconnectivity in a first cell of the first network node and at least asecond cell of at least a second network node. The first network node isconfigured to obtain information indicating at least a second randomaccess channel configuration used in the at least second cell, determinewhether or not the at least second random access channel configurationis orthogonal to a first random access channel configuration in thefirst cell, and using the result of the determining to determine thetime required by the communication device to configure the at leastsecond cell.

By having a communication device and/or a first network node configuredas described above, delays in the configuration and activation of the atleast second cell may be avoided or minimized. Hence, random accesstransmissions in the radio communications network are improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will now be described in more detail in relation to theenclosed drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a random access preambletransmission,

FIG. 2 is a signalling diagram depicting the signalling of acontention-based random access procedure in LTE,

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating wireless communicationdevices and a network node in a radio communications network,

FIG. 4 is a signalling diagram depicting the signalling of acontention-free random access procedure in LTE,

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram illustrating wireless communicationdevices and a network node in a dual connectivity deployment scenario,

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram depicting an example of orthogonalrandom access,

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram depicting another example oforthogonal random access,

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram illustrating embodiments of awireless communication device and a network node in a radiocommunications network,

FIG. 9 is a flowchart depicting embodiments of a method in a wirelesscommunication device,

FIG. 10 is a flowchart depicting embodiments of a method in a networknode,

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram depicting embodiments of a wirelesscommunication device,

FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram depicting embodiments of a networknode, and FIG. 13 is a flowchart depicting an embodiment of a method ina network node.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The figures herein are schematic and simplified for clarity, and theymerely show details which are essential to the understanding of theembodiments presented herein, while other details have been left out.Throughout, the same reference numerals are used for identical orcorresponding parts or steps.

A general description of scenarios enabling orthogonal PRACHconfigurations is described below with respect to FIG. 6-7 to helpunderstanding the embodiments described herein. FIG. 6 shows orthogonalRACH transmission for different CGs. FIG. 7 shows orthogonal PRACHtransmission when frame boundary is not aligned.

The basic scenario comprises of a CA capable wireless communicationdevice configured with a first serving cell operating on a first carrierfrequency, f1, and the wireless communication device is also capable ofbeing served by at least one more serving cell also known as secondserving cell operating on another carrier, f2. The wirelesscommunication device may further be capable of being served by more thantwo serving cells also known as SCells. At least the wirelesscommunication device is capable of being served by the first and secondserving cells in both downlink and uplink.

The first serving cell and the second serving cell are served by a firstnetwork node and a second network node respectively. In some embodimentsthe first and the second network nodes may be the same.

The first serving cell and the second serving cell are configured with afirst PRACH configuration and a second PRACH configuration respectively.The PRACH configuration herein means that it comprises of one or moreparameters that are associated with a radio resource where a wirelesscommunication device may send a PRACH. The radio resource is an occasion(e.g. subframe, set of resource blocks) in a cell where the wirelesscommunication device sends a PRACH. The random access transmission tothe first cell may herein also be referred to as a first PRACH (i.e.PCell PRACH in DC). The random access transmission to the second cellmay herein also be referred to as a second PRACH (i.e. PSCell PRACH inDC).

In some embodiments, the first and the second PRACH configurations areconfigured to be orthogonal to each other. The term “orthogonal PRACHconfiguration” implies that the first PRACH and second PRACH occasionsoccur during non-overlapping times. This allows the wirelesscommunication device to send PRACH in the first cell and in the secondcell at different times or time periods i.e. not in parallel. Examplesof such time periods are subframes, frames, time slot, symbol(s), PRACHtransmission time slot, PRACH period, PRACH duration, etc. The termorthogonal PRACH configurations may interchangeably be called as simplyorthogonal PRACHs, non-overlapping PRACHs, PRACH configurations oroperations in non-overlapping times or in orthogonal times etc. Itshould also be noted that, according to some embodiments, the“orthogonal PRACH configuration” may also imply that the first PRACH andsecond PRACH occur on different cells, i.e. the different cells mayoperate on different frequencies, e.g. carriers with different centerfrequencies. Examples of different frequencies are inter-frequencycarriers, component carriers involved in carrier aggregation, componentcarriers involved in dual connectivity, etc.

The concept of the orthogonal PRACH configuration is explained with fewexamples below:

In a first example, it is assumed that the radio frames of the firstcell and the second cell are time aligned (e.g. difference between thestart of their radio frames is less than 3 μs). Their uplink radioframes also have the same timing relations as between their downlinkradio frames. In this case as an example the first PRACH and the secondPRACH may be configured in subframe #1 and subframe #2 in the first andthe second cells respectively; this will ensure orthogonality betweenthe two PRACHs. This is illustrated in FIG. 6.

In a second example, it is assumed that the subframes of the first celland the second cell are time aligned (e.g. difference between the startof their subframes is less than 3 μs). But their radio frames are nottime aligned and instead shifted by 2 subframes with respect to eachother. Their uplink radio frames and subframes also have the same timingrelations as between their downlink radio frames and subframesrespectively. In this case as an example the first PRACH and the secondPRACH may be configured in subframe #1 and also subframe #1 in the firstand the second cells respectively; this will still maintain theorthogonality between the two PRACHs. This is illustrated in FIG. 7.

In a third example, it is assumed that the first cell and the secondcell have arbitrary transmit timing, i.e. there is no well-definedtiming relation between the transmit timings of their frames orsubframes. In this case, in one example, the first PRACH and the secondPRACH may be configured in the beginning of the radio frame in the firstcell and at the end of the radio frame in the second cell respectivelyor vice versa. In yet another example, the first PRACH and the secondPRACH may be configured in different radio frames to ensure that theydon't overlap in time. In that case, the above figures may have verydifferent boundaries with respect to subframe timing and also for frametiming.

In some embodiments there may be yet a third cell with a third PRACHconfiguration. The embodiments are applicable for any number of cellsand their PRACH configurations.

As a special case, the first serving cell and the second serving cellare the PCell and PSCell respectively of the wireless communicationdevice and belong to MCG and SCG respectively in a DC operation. Also,in the DC operation, the first serving cell and the second serving cellare served or managed by the MeNB and SeNB, respectively.

FIG. 8 depicts a radio communications network 100 in which embodimentsherein may be implemented. In some embodiments, the radio communicationsnetwork 100 may be a wireless communications network such as a Long TermEvolution (LTE) network. Although, the radio communication network 100is exemplified herein as an LTE network, the radio communicationsnetwork 100 may also employ technology of any one of LTE-Advanced,Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Global System for Mobilecommunications/Enhanced Data rate for GSM Evolution (GSM/EDGE),Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Ultra MobileBroadband (UMB) or GSM, or any other similar cellular network or system.

The radio communications system 100 comprises a network node 110. Thenetwork node 110 serves at least one cell 115. The network node 110 maycorrespond to any type of radio network node or any network node, whichcommunicates with a wireless communication device and/or with anothernetwork node, such as, e.g. be a base station, a radio base station,eNB, eNodeB, a Home Node B, a Home eNode B, femto Base Station (BS),pico BS, etc. Further examples of the network node 110 may also be e.g.a repeater, base station (BS), multi-standard radio (MSR) radio nodesuch as MSR BS, eNodeB, network controller, radio network controller(RNC), base station controller (BSC), relay, donor node controllingrelay, base transceiver station (BTS), access point (AP), transmissionpoints, transmission nodes, a Remote Radio Unit (RRU), a Remote RadioHead (RRH), nodes in distributed antenna system (DAS), core network node(e.g. MSC, MME, etc.), O&M, OSS, SON, positioning node (e.g. E-SMLC),MDT, etc.

A cell is a geographical area where radio coverage is provided by radiobase station equipment at a base station site or at remote locations inRemote Radio Units (RRU). The cell definition may also incorporatefrequency bands and radio access technology used for transmissions,which means that two different cells may cover the same geographicalarea but using different frequency bands. Each cell is identified by anidentity within the local radio area, which is broadcast in the cell.Another identity identifying the cell 115 uniquely in the whole radiocommunication network 100 is also broadcasted in the cell 115. Thenetwork node 110 communicates over the air or radio interface operatingon radio frequencies with the UEs within range of the network node 110.

In FIG. 1, a wireless communication device 121 is located within thecell 115. The wireless communication device 121 is configured tocommunicate within the radio communications network 100 via the networknode 110 over a radio link 131 when present in the cell 115 served bythe network node 110. The wireless communication device 121 may refer toany type of communication device or user equipment (UE) communicatingwith a network node and/or with another communication device in acellular, mobile or radio communication network or system. Examples ofsuch a wireless communication device are mobile phones, cellular phones,Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), smart phones, tablets, sensorsequipped with a UE, Laptop Mounted Equipment (LME) (e.g. USB), LaptopEmbedded Equipments (LEEs), Machine Type Communication (MTC) devices, orMachine to Machine (M2M) device, Customer Premises Equipment (CPE),target device, device-to-device (D2D) wireless device, wireless devicecapable of machine to machine (M2M) communication, etc.

As shown in FIG. 1, the radio communications system 100 may furthercomprises a second and a third network node 111, 112. The network node111, 112 serves at least one cell 116, 117. The second and third networknode 111, 112 may also be configured to serve the wireless communicationdevice 121 in the at least one cell 116, 117, i.e. as secondary cells,when operating in Dual Connectivity, DC, mode.

As part of the developing of the embodiments described herein, a problemwill first be identified and discussed.

A wireless communication device being configured in dual connectivitymode, or DC mode, may receive a request from its PCell in its MasterCell Group, MCG, to configure and activate a secondary cell, PSCell,belonging to Secondary Cell Group, SCG, in dual connectivity operation.In response to the request, the configuration and activation procedurefor the PSCell may be initiated by the wireless communication device.This procedure is completed when the wireless communication device hassuccessfully sent a random access, RA, transmission to the PSCell, alsocommonly referred to as PSCell Random Access CHannel, PSCell RACH, orPSCell Physical Random Access CHannel, PSCell PRACH. However, during orat the start of such procedure the wireless communication device mayalso have to send another RA to PCell due to one or several reasons. Anexample of such a reason may be for arrival of data in the wirelesscommunication device buffer while the wireless communication device hasno valid uplink grant, positioning requests, expiry of TA timer, etc.The wireless communication device may not be able to simultaneousperform RA transmissions to PSCell and PCell, especially due to uplinkpower limitation, since the wireless communication device may not beable to transmit more than its maximum power, such as, for example, 23dBm.

In case of simultaneous RA transmissions to PSCell and PCell, it hasbeen agreed that the wireless communication device is required toprioritize the RA transmission to the PCell, i.e. the transmission ofPCell PRACH, and withhold the RA transmission to the PSCell, i.e. thetransmission of PSCell PRACH, unless the former is successfullytransmitted.

There may also be failure in one or more attempts to transmit PCellPRACH. This may, for example, be due to collision with RA transmissionssent by other wireless communication devices, interference, etc. Becauseof such factors, the PSCell PRACH may be delayed over an arbitrary andunpredictable amount of time. This, in turn, will delay theconfiguration and activation of the PSCell. Also, in case the delay istoo long, e.g. one or more frames, then the wireless communicationdevice may not be able to be scheduled on PSCell SCG, which will thustherefore also affect the user performance.

A solution is therefore needed to avoid or at least minimize such delayin the configuration and activation of the PSCell. This issue isaddressed by the embodiments presented herein.

Example of embodiments of a method performed by a wireless communicationdevice 121 for enabling improved random access transmissions in a radiocommunications network 100 will now be described with reference to theflowchart depicted in FIG. 9. FIG. 9 illustrates an example of actionsor operations which may be taken by the wireless communication device121.

The wireless communication device 121 is configurable for dualconnectivity in a first cell 115 of a first network node 110 and atleast a second cell 116, 117 of at least a second network node 111, 112.

Action 901

First, wireless communication device 121 obtains information indicatinga first random access channel configuration used in the first cell 115.This may, for example, be performed by the wireless communication device121 by obtaining System Information, SI, which comprises the PRACHconfiguration, i.e. the at least second random access channelconfiguration, of one or more cells. The SI, e.g. Master InformationBlock, MIB, System Information Blocks, SIBs, etc., may be obtained bythe wireless communication device 121 by itself acquiring the SI of thecells or it may receive this from one of its serving cells.

Action 902

The wireless communication device 121 here also obtains informationindicating at least a second random access channel configuration used inthe at least second cell 116, 117. This may, for example, be performedby the wireless communication device 121 by obtaining SystemInformation, SI, which comprises the PRACH configuration, i.e. the atleast second random access channel configuration, of one or more cells.The SI, e.g. Master Information Block, MIB, System Information Blocks,SIBs, etc., may be obtained by the wireless communication device 121 byitself acquiring the SI of the cells or it may receive this from one ofits serving cells.

Action 903

In this action, wireless communication device 121 determines whether ornot the at least second random access channel configuration isorthogonal to the first random access channel configuration. The firstand the second random access channel configurations may be consideredorthogonal with respect to each other if their respective random accessoccasions occur in different time resources.

Action 904

After the determination in Action 903, the wireless communication device121 uses the result of the determination in Action 903 to cause adetermination of cells used for dual connectivity and/or an adaptationof the first or at least second random access channel configuration.

Action 904 a

In some embodiments, the wireless communication device 121 transmit, tothe first network node 110 and/or the at least second network node 111,112, information indicating which of the at least second cell 116, 117may be used for dual connectivity based on the determination in Action903. These embodiments may be referred to as a method performed by thewireless communication device 121 for recommending cells as servingcells based on PRACH configuration.

In some of these embodiments, the wireless communication device 121configured in DC or being configured in DC or that is capable of DCoperation, may autonomously determine one or more potential servingcells with respect to the relation between their PRACH configurations.By obtain PRACH configurations of two or more cells and based on thatdetermine whether the PRACH configurations are orthogonal or not, asdescribed in Actions 901-903, the wireless communication device 121 mayselect a potential set of serving cells that have orthogonal PRACHconfigurations. In case the wireless communication device 121 determinesseveral cells, L, with orthogonal PRACH configurations, the wirelesscommunication device 121 may select M number of cells, where M<L, aspotential cells based on one or more additional criteria.

For example, in some embodiments, the wireless communication device 121may determine the cells of the at least second cell 116, 117 which maybe used for dual connectivity based on the signal quality of the cellsat the wireless communication device 121. For example, M number of cellsout of L cells that have the strongest signal quality levels at thewireless communication device 121, e.g. the cells having the largestRSRQ measured by the wireless communication device 121, are selected aspotential serving cells. Alternatively, in some embodiments, thewireless communication device 121 may determine the cells of the atleast second cell 116, 117 which may be used for dual connectivity basedon when the next random access transmissions occurs in respective cell.For example, M number of cells out of L cells whose PRACH transmissionoccasions are farthest in time are selected as potential serving cells.

In some embodiments, the information indicating which of the at leastsecond cell 116, 117 may be used for dual connectivity may furtherindicate which cells of the at least second cell 116, 117 may be used asthe primary cell, PSCell, for the wireless communication device 121 whenoperating in dual connectivity, and which cells of the at least secondcell 116, 117 may be used as secondary PCell, SCell, for the wirelesscommunication device 121 when operating in dual connectivity. Forexample, upon selecting M cells as the potential serving cells withrespect to their PRACH configurations, the wireless communication device121 may provides information about these recommended serving cells tothe serving cell. The wireless communication device 121 may even provideinformation about the cell(s) that are recommended to be used as PCelland/or the cell(s) that are recommended to be used as PSCell for DCoperation. A network node 110, 111, 112 receiving the aboverecommendation from the wireless communication device 121 may use thisfor configuring or reconfiguring the PCell and/or PSCell of the wirelesscommunication device 121 for DC operation.

Action 904 b

In some embodiments, the wireless communication device 121 transmit, tothe first network node 110 and/or the at least second network node 111,112, information indicating that the first or at least second randomaccess channel configuration should be adapted based on thedetermination in Action 903. This means that the wireless communicationdevice 121 may implicitly or explicitly inform a network node that itneeds to transmit using different PRACH configuration, e.g. differentPRACH index, in a serving cell, e.g. PCell or PSCell, compared to thecurrently PRACH configuration, e.g. a current PRACH index. Theseembodiments may be referred to as a method performed by the wirelesscommunication device 121 for informing a network node of the need fororthogonal PRACH resources.

In some of these embodiments, this may be performed by the wirelesscommunication device 121 based on expected or occurred failures ordelays of random access transmissions by the wireless communicationdevice 121 using the first or at least second random access channelconfigurations. In other words, the wireless communication device 121may inform a network node in case there is a PRACH failure or a delay inthe PRACH transmission in the PCell and/or the PSCell. The PRACH failureor delay may occur when, in the wireless communication device 121, thereis a simultaneous occurrence or need for simultaneous transmission ofPRACHs towards the PCell and PSCell.

In some embodiments, the wireless communication device 121 mayimplicitly inform the network node by informing the network node aboutthe statistics related to the number of times the PRACH has or typicallyfails and/or has or typically delayed. This means that the informationmay further indicates statistical information based on expected oroccurred failures or delays of random access transmissions by thewireless communication device 121 using the first or at least secondrandom access channel configurations. Optionally, in some embodiments,the wireless communication device 121 may explicitly request the networknode that the current PRACH configuration(s) in the PCell and/or PSCellneed to be changed such that the PRACH configurations in the PSCell andPCell become orthogonal with respect to each other. This means that theinformation comprises an explicit request to the first network node 110and/or the at least second network node 111, 112 to change the first orat least second random access channel configuration such that the firstand at least second random access channel configurations are orthogonalwith respect to each other.

Hence, a network node, such as, the first network node 110 and/or the atleast second network node 111, 112, may upon obtaining the aboveimplicit or explicit information may adapt its PRACH configurationand/or request one or more neighboring network nodes to adapt theirPRACH configurations such that they become orthogonal with respect toeach other. Also, in some embodiments, the network node(s) may adapt itsPRACH configuration or request other network nodes to adapt their PRACHconfigurations based on request received from two or more wirelesscommunication devices, i.e. based on statistics.

Action 904 c

In some embodiments, the wireless communication device 121 may transmitrandom access transmissions using a third and at least fourth randomaccess channel configurations instead of the first or at least secondrandom access channel configuration, which third and at least fourthrandom access channel configurations are subset to first and at leastsecond random access channel configurations respectively and orthogonalto each other based on the determination in Action 903. Theseembodiments may be referred to as a method performed by the wirelesscommunication device 121 for autonomous orthogonal PRACH transmission.This is because here the wireless communication device 121 mayautonomously decide to transmit PRACH in orthogonal manner.

For example, when a wireless communication device 121 finds out that thewireless communication device 121 is power limited, then the wirelesscommunication device 121 may itself decide on the orthogonal PRACHtransmission pattern by using different PRACH configurations fordifferent Cell Groups, CGs. This pattern may or may not be transmittedto the network. Thus, in some embodiments, the wireless communicationdevice 121 may determine whether or not the transmission power that isavailable for simultaneous random access transmissions using the firstand/or at least second random access channel configuration is below adetermined threshold, and, in case the available transmission power isbelow the determined threshold, perform orthogonal random accesstransmissions using the third and at least fourth random access channelconfiguration. Also, the wireless communication device 121 may transmitthe transmitting the third and/or at least fourth random access channelconfiguration to the first network node 110 and/or the at least secondnetwork node 111, 112.

As seen in the Table 5.7.1-2 of 3GPP TS 36.211 v. 12.3.0 (2014September) below, the wireless communication device 121 may choose PRACHconfiguration index 0 for MCG and PRACH configuration index 4 for SCG.In this way, the PRACH transmissions may be orthogonal. In someembodiments, if involved nodes configure RACH resources with PRCHconfiguration 14, the wireless communication device 121 may send PRACHto MCG and SCG using PRACH configuration 12 and 13, respectively. Thiswill ensure that the PRACH transmissions towards different CGs areorthogonal to each other. This will work fine for synchronized dualconnectivity. In case of unsynchronized mode of dual connectivity, thewireless communication device 121 may use PRACH configuration 9 and 11respectively. Similar approach may be applied to both TDD and FDDsystems, or in mixed TDD and FDD systems.

TABLE 5.7.1-2 Frame structure type 1 random access configuration forpreamble formats 0-3 PRACH Preamble System frame Subframe ConfigurationIndex Format number number 0 0 Even 1 1 0 Even 4 2 0 Even 7 3 0 Any 1 40 Any 4 5 0 Any 7 6 0 Any 1,6 7 0 Any 2,7 8 0 Any 3,8 9 0 Any 1,4,7 10 0Any 2,5,8 11 0 Any 3, 6, 9 12 0 Any 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 13 0 Any 1, 3, 5, 7, 914 0 Any 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 15 0 Even 9 16 1 Even 1 17 1 Even4 18 1 Even 7 19 1 Any 1 20 1 Any 4 21 1 Any 7 22 1 Any 1, 6 23 1 Any 2,7 24 1 Any 3, 8 25 1 Any 1, 4, 7 26 1 Any 2, 5, 8 27 1 Any 3, 6, 9 28 1Any 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 29 1 Any 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 30 N/A N/A N/A 31 1 Even 9 32 2Even 1 33 2 Even 4 34 2 Even 7 35 2 Any 1 36 2 Any 4 37 2 Any 7 38 2 Any1, 6 39 2 Any 2, 7 40 2 Any 3, 8 41 2 Any 1, 4, 7 42 2 Any 2, 5, 8 43 2Any 3, 6, 9 44 2 Any 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 45 2 Any 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 46 N/A N/A N/A47 2 Even 9 48 3 Even 1 49 3 Even 4 50 3 Even 7 51 3 Any 1 52 3 Any 4 533 Any 7 54 3 Any 1, 6 55 3 Any 2, 7 56 3 Any 3, 8 57 3 Any 1, 4, 7 58 3Any 2, 5, 8 59 3 Any 3, 6, 9 60 N/A N/A N/A 61 N/A N/A N/A 62 N/A N/AN/A 63 3 Even 9

For frame structure type 2 with preamble formats 0-4, there might bemultiple random access resources in an UL subframe (or UpPTS forpreamble format 4) depending on the UL/DL configuration.

Table 5.7.1-3 lists PRACH configurations allowed for frame structuretype 2 where the configuration index corresponds to a certaincombination of preamble format, PRACH density value, D_(RA) and versionindex, r^(RA). The parameter prach-ConfigurationIndex is given by higherlayers. For frame structure type 2 with PRACH configuration 0, 1, 2, 20,21, 22, 30, 31, 32, 40, 41, 42, 48, 49, 50, or with PRACH configuration51, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57 in UL/DL configuration 3, 4, 5, the UE may forhandover purposes assume an absolute value of the relative timedifference between radio frame i in the current cell and the target cellis less than 153600·T_(s).

TABLE 5.7.1-3 Frame structure type 2 random access configurations forpreamble formats 0-4 PRACH Density configuration Preamble Per 10 msVersion Index Format D_(RA) r_(RA) 0 0 0.5 0 1 0 0.5 1 2 0 0.5 2 3 0 1 04 0 1 1 5 0 1 2 6 0 2 0 7 0 2 1 8 0 2 2 9 0 3 0 10 0 3 1 11 0 3 2 12 0 40 13 0 4 1 14 0 4 2 15 0 5 0 16 0 5 1 17 0 5 2 18 0 6 0 19 0 6 1 20 10.5 0 21 1 0.5 1 22 1 0.5 2 23 1 1 0 24 1 1 1 25 1 2 0 26 1 3 0 27 1 4 028 1 5 0 29 1 6 0 30 2 0.5 0 31 2 0.5 1 32 2 0.5 2 33 2 1 0 34 2 1 1 352 2 0 36 2 3 0 37 2 4 0 38 2 5 0 39 2 6 0 40 3 0.5 0 41 3 0.5 1 42 3 0.52 43 3 1 0 44 3 1 1 45 3 2 0 46 3 3 0 47 3 4 0 48 4 0.5 0 49 4 0.5 1 504 0.5 2 51 4 1 0 52 4 1 1 53 4 2 0 54 4 3 0 55 4 4 0 56 4 5 0 57 4 6 058 N/A N/A N/A 59 N/A N/A N/A 60 N/A N/A N/A 61 N/A N/A N/A 62 N/A N/AN/A 63 N/A N/A N/A

According to a further aspect of the method performed by the wirelesscommunication device 121 described above, the method may also bedescribed as: obtaining information about a first PRACH configurationfor PRACH transmission in a first serving cell of the UE, wherein thefirst serving cell is served or managed by the primary network node,obtaining information about a second PRACH configuration for PRACHtransmission in a second cell, comparing the first and the second PRACHconfigurations, and determining based on at least the comparison whetheror not the second cell is configured as the second serving cell of theUE, and informing the network node about the outcome of thedetermination. These steps may be performed in the wirelesscommunication device 121, which is configured with at least one servingcell in MCG and is configured or being configured with at least oneserving cell in SCG.

Example of embodiments of a method performed by a first network node 110for enabling improved random access transmissions of a wirelesscommunication device 121 in a radio communications network 100, will nowbe described with reference to the flowchart depicted in FIG. 10. FIG.10 illustrates an example of actions or operations which may be taken bythe first network node 110. The communication device 121 is configurablefor dual connectivity in a first cell 115 of the first network node 110and at least a second cell 116, 117 of at least a second network node111, 112.

Action 1001

First, the first network node 110 obtains information indicating atleast a second random access channel configuration used in the at leastsecond cell 116, 117.

This may, for example, be performed by retrieving, as shown by Action301 a, the information from predetermined information accessible to, orstored in, the first network node 110. Alternatively, this may beperformed by receiving, as shown by Action 301 b, the information fromthe at least second network node 111, 112, for example, in response to arequest for a dual connectivity connection. Optionally, this may also beperformed by receiving, as shown by Action 301 c, the information fromthe wireless communication device 121, e.g. the information may comprisean explicit request to change the PRACH configuration in the first cellor implicit information related to the PRACH configuration of the secondnode 111, 112.

In some embodiments, the information indicates a subframe and/or a frametiming used in the at least second cell 116, 117 for random accesstransmissions.

Action 1002

In this action, the first network node 110 determines whether or not theat least second random access channel configuration is orthogonal to afirst random access channel configuration in the first cell 115. Here,the first random access channel configuration and the at least secondrandom access channel configuration may be considered orthogonal whenrandom access transmissions from the wireless communication device 121according to the first random access channel configuration does notoverlap in time with random access transmissions from the wirelesscommunication device 121 according at least second random access channelconfiguration.

Action 1003

After the determination in 1002, the first network node 110 may use theresult of the determination in 1002 to determine the cells that may beused for dual connectivity by the wireless communication device 121and/or to adapt the first or at least second random access channelconfigurations.

Action 1003 a

In some embodiments, the first network node 110 may determine the firstrandom access channel configuration for the wireless communicationdevice 121 to be used in the first cell 115 such that it is orthogonalto the at least second random access channel configuration. This may,for example, be performed when the at least second cell 116, 117 is theprimary cell, PCell, for the wireless communication device 121 whenoperating in dual connectivity and the first cell 115 is a secondarycell, PSCell, for the wireless communication device 121 when operatingin dual connectivity. These embodiments may be referred to as a methodperformed by the first network node 110 for configuring orthogonal PRACHresources compared to neighboring network node or for informingneighboring nodes regarding orthogonal PRACH resources.

In some embodiments, the first network node 110 may configure the firstPRACH such that it does not overlap in time with the second PRACHregardless of the relation between the timings of the frames and/orsubframes of the first 115 and the second cells 116, 117. In someembodiments, the first network node 110 may change or re-configure itsPRACH configuration, e.g. PRACH index, upon information or requestreceived from the second node 111, 112. The changed or re-configuredfirst PRACH configuration is orthogonal to the PRACH configuration inthe second cell 116, 115.

In some embodiments, the selection of the PRACH configuration betweennetwork nodes 110, 111, 112 that support or may support DC operation mayalso be realized based on pre-defined rules.

One example of such pre-defined rules is that the first network node110, which may be used as MeNB or used as the MeNB for at least N numberof wireless communication devices operating in DC always has priority tochoose its preferred PRACH configuration and inform this to the othernetwork node(s), such as, the network node 111, 112. The other networknodes 111, 112, which may be used as SeNB or used as the SeNB for atleast K number of wireless communication devices operating in DC followsaccordingly by choosing different PRACH configuration, i.e. differentwith respect to the PRACH configuration that is used in the firstnetwork node 110.

Another example is that the first network node 110 may determine thefirst random access channel configuration for the wireless communicationdevice 121 to be used in the first cell 115 when the at least secondcell 116, 117 belongs to a first type of power classification and thefirst cell 115 belongs to a second type of power classification. Thismeans that a network node of certain type(s) of power class, also knownas BS power class, may autonomously choose its preferred PRACHconfigurations, while the network node(s) of other type of power classmay follow accordingly by choosing another PRACH configuration. Examplesof network nodes of different power class are macro, micro, pico andhome network nodes. The macro, micro, pico and home network nodes arealso interchangeably called as wide area, medium range, local area andfemto network nodes. More specifically as an example the macro networknode may choose its preferred PRACH configurations, while pico networknodes may follow accordingly by choosing another PRACH configurationi.e. orthogonal to that of the macro network node.

In order to ensure orthogonal PRACH in different network nodes, thenetwork nodes 110, 111, 112 may exchange information. It should be notedthat a network may or may not support dual connectivity, DC, operation.A network node may also decide to stop supporting or start supportingthe DC operation. In some embodiments, the first network node 110 mayinform one or more neighboring network nodes 111, 112 periodically, e.g.to other eNBs 111, 112 via X2 interface, or whenever dual connectivityoperations are supported by the first network node 110. The firstnetwork node 110 may also provide additional information such as firstnetwork node's frame and/or subframe start timings and/or first PRACHconfiguration. The network node receiving the above mentionedinformation, e.g. at least second network node 111, 112 may thus adaptits PRACH configuration such that its PRACH configuration becomesorthogonal to that of the first network node 110. In some embodiments,the first network node 110 may only adapt its PRACH configuration onlyif it supports or is expected to support DC operation.

Action 1003 b

In some embodiments, the first network node 110 may determine that theat least second cell 116, 117 may be used by the wireless communicationdevice 121 in dual connectivity when the at least second random accesschannel configuration is orthogonal to the first random access channelconfiguration. This may, for example, be performed when the first cell115 is the primary cell, PCell, for the wireless communication device121 when operating in dual connectivity, and the at least second cell116, 117 is a secondary PCell, PSCell, for the wireless communicationdevice 121 when operating in dual connectivity. These embodiments may bereferred to as a method performed by the first network node 110 forconfiguring a wireless communication device 121 with a serving cellbased on PRACH configurations in network nodes.

This means that the first network node 110, in some embodiments, maychoose a second serving cell of the wireless communication device 121for DC operation such that the first 115 and the at least second servingcells 116, 117 have orthogonal PRACH configurations.

For example, it may be assumed that the wireless communication device121 is configured with at least a PCell. In some implementations, thewireless communication device 121 may also be configured a PSCellbelonging to SCG. After choosing or selecting the PSCell for thewireless communication device 121, the first network node 110 mayinforms the wireless communication device 121 to configure and activatethe selected PSCell for DC operation. This means that the first networknode 110 may determine that the at least second cell 116, 117 is to beused by the wireless communication device 121 for a dual connectivityoperation, and may transmit, to the wireless communication device 121,information indicating that the wireless communication device 121 is toconfigure and activate the at least second cell 116, 117 for a dualconnectivity operation.

More specifically, the first network node 110 may select the new PSCellor change the existing PSCell of the wireless communication device 121belonging to the SCG such that the PRACH in the new or modified PSCellis orthogonal to that of the PCell of the wireless communication device121.

To achieve the above objectives, the first network node 110 may obtaininformation about PRACH configurations in one or more neighboring cells116, 117, as described in Action 1001. The first network node 110 mayhere also obtain information about the frame and/or subframe starttimings of one or more of these neighboring cells. The above sets ofinformation enable the first network node 110 to determine the mostsuitable PSCell with regards to its own PRACH configuration used in cell115. If the first network node 110 determines more than one potentialPSCell for the wireless communication device 121, then the first networknode 110 may use one or more additional criteria to select the PSCellout of the eligible PSCells.

According to one example, the cell whose signal quality at the wirelesscommunication device 121 is strongest among all the candidates PSCellsmay be selected by the first network node 110 as the PSCell for thewireless communication device 121. According to another example, thecell with least load (e.g. one with lowest mean transmit power and/orone serving lowest number of wireless communication devices) among theentire candidate PSCells may be selected as the PSCell for the wirelesscommunication device 121. Thus, the first network node 110 may, whendetermined that more than one cell may be used by the wirelesscommunication device 121 for a dual connectivity operation, further beconfigured to determine that one of the at least second cell 116, 117 isto be the primary secondary cell, PSCell, for a dual connectivityoperation based on a criteria.

Action 1004

Optionally, in case a first random access channel configuration wasdetermined in Action 1003, the first network node 110 may transmit thefirst random access channel configuration to at least one of the atleast second network node 111, 112 in the radio communications network100. This means that the first network node 110 may transmit the firstPRACH configuration information, e.g. a PRACH index, to another networknode which is potentially involved in serving any wireless communicationdevice in dual connectivity manner. The second involved node may thenuse the received information to configure the orthogonal PRACHresources, e.g. PRACH with another PRACH configuration index which isorthogonal to the first PRACH.

In some embodiments, the determined first random access channelconfiguration may be transmitted as part of a request to at least one ofthe at least second network node 111, 112 to adapt the at least a secondrandom access channel configuration to be orthogonal to the first randomaccess channel configuration.

It should further be noted that in some embodiments, it may bepre-defined that if the wireless communication device 121 performsorthogonal PRACH transmissions on two serving cells of different CGs(e.g. in PCell and PSCell), then the delay within which the wirelesscommunication device 121 shall be able to configure a PSCell in dualconnectivity shall not include any delay caused by the PCell RACH. Theorthogonal PRACH transmissions in different CGs (e.g. in MCG and SCG)may be realized based on any of the preceding embodiments describedherein.

In other words, this means that the communication device 121 and/or thenetwork node 110 may use the result of the determining of whether or notthe at least second random access channel configuration is orthogonal tothe first random access channel configuration, e.g. as described abovein Action 903, to determine the time required by the communicationdevice 121 to configure the at least second cell 116, 117.

The time or delay to configure a PSCell may be referred to as a PSCellconfiguration delay and the corresponding procedure is triggered uponthe wireless communication device 121 receiving a request from thenetwork node 110 (e.g. PCell) to configure a PSCell. The above mentionedpre-defined rule is explained in the example below. This means, forexample, that the time T1 and the time T2 required by the communicationdevice 121 to configure the at least second cell 116, 117, as describedbelow, may be determined by the communication device 121 and/or thenetwork node 110 based on a pre-defined rule.

Referring to FIG. 13, in this example, if the PCell and PSCell RACHoccasions are not orthogonal then the time or delay required by thewireless communication device 121 to configure a known PSCell isexpressed (in ms) by the equation (Eq. 1) (Action 1301) as follows:T _(config) _(_) _(known) _(_) _(PSCell)=15 ms+T _(activation) _(_)_(time)+50 ms+T _(PCell) _(_) _(IU) +T _(PSCell) _(_) _(IU)  (Eq. 1)wherein

T_(activation) _(_) _(time) is the PSCell activation delay and may e.g.be 20 ms;

T_(PCell) _(_) _(IU) is the interruption uncertainty due to PCell PRACHpreamble transmission and may be up to e.g. 20 ms in case PSCellactivation is interrupted by a PCell PRACH preamble transmission,otherwise it is 0; and

T_(PSCell) _(_) _(IU) is the interruption uncertainty in acquiring thefirst available PRACH occasion in the PSCell and may be up to e.g. 30ms; also, the actual value of T_(PSCell) depend upon the PRACHconfiguration used in the PSCell.

It should be noted that T_(config) _(_) _(known) _(_) _(PSCell) may alsobe referred to herein as T2 or T_(config) _(_) _(PSCell) for the casewhen a known PSCell is configured i.e. known to the communication device121 before it is configured at the communication device 121.

If the PCell and PSCell RACH occasions are not orthogonal then the timeor delay required by the wireless communication device 121 to configurean unknown PSCell is expressed (in ms) by the equation (Eq. 2) asfollows:T _(config) _(_) _(unknown) _(_) _(PSCell)=15 ms+T _(activation) _(_)_(time)+50 ms+T _(PCell) _(_) _(IU) +T _(PSCell) _(_) _(IU)  (Eq. 2)

It should be noted that T_(config) _(_) _(known) _(_) _(PSCell) may alsobe referred to herein as T2 or T_(config) _(_) _(PSCell) for the casewhen an unknown PSCell is configured, i.e. not known to thecommunication device 121 before it is configured at the communicationdevice 121.

A PSCell is considered to be known if following conditions are met forthe PSCell (otherwise it is considered to be unknown):

-   -   during the last x seconds before the reception of the PSCell        configuration command, wherein e.g. x=5s or x=max(5        measCycleSCell, 5 DRX cycles);    -   the wireless communication device 121 has sent a valid        measurement report for the PSCell being configured;    -   the PSCell being configured remains detectable according to the        cell identification conditions; and    -   PSCell being configured also remains detectable during the        PSCell configuration delay according to the cell identification        conditions.

According to the pre-defined rule, the following adaptation in thePSCell configuration time is done, i.e. PCell RACH delay is excluded. Inother words, this means that T_(PCell) _(_) _(IU)=0.

Referring to FIG. 13, if the PCell and PSCell RACH occasions areorthogonal then the time or delay required by the wireless communicationdevice 121 to configure a known PSCell is expressed by the equation(Eq.3) (Action 1302) as follows:T _(config) _(_) _(known) _(_) _(PSCell)=15 ms+T _(activation) _(_)_(time)+50 ms+T _(PSCell) _(_) _(IU)  (Eq. 3)

It should be noted that T_(config) _(_) _(known) _(_) _(PSCell) may alsobe referred to herein as T1 or T_(config) _(_) _(PSCell) for the casewhen a known PSCell is configured, i.e. known to the communicationdevice 121 before it is configured at the communication device 121.

If the PCell and PSCell RACH occasions are orthogonal then the time ordelay required by the wireless communication device 121 to configure anunknown PSCell is expressed (in ms) by the equation (Eq. 4) as follows:T _(config) _(_) _(unknown) _(_) _(PSCell)=15 ms+T _(activation) _(_)_(time)50 ms+T _(PSCell) _(_) _(IU)  (Eq. 4)

It should be noted that T_(config) _(_) _(known) _(_) _(PSCell) may alsobe referred to herein as T1 or T_(config) _(_) _(PSCell) for the casewhen an unknown PSCell is configured, i.e. not known to thecommunication device 121 before it is configured at the communicationdevice 121.

It thus follows that the time, T1, required by the communication device121 to configure the at least second cell 116, 117 when the result ofthe determining is that the second random access channel configurationis orthogonal to the first random access channel configuration in someembodiments is shorter than the time, T2, required by the communicationdevice 121 to configure the at least second cell 116, 117 when theresult of the determining is that the second random access channelconfiguration is not orthogonal to the first random access channelconfiguration.

Furthermore, in other words, the time T1 required by the communicationdevice 121 to configure the at least second cell 116, 117 does notinclude the time to perform random access on the first cell 115. Also,the time T2 required by the communication device 121 to configure the atleast second cell 116, 117 includes the time to perform random access onthe first cell 115.

According to another aspect of the method performed by the first networknode 110 described above, the method may also be described as: obtaininginformation about at least a second PRACH configuration used for PRACHtransmission in at least a second cell (e.g. neighbour cell),configuring in the primary network node a first PRACH configurationwhich is orthogonal to at least the second PRACH configuration, whereinorthogonal PRACH configuration implies that the first PRACH and secondPRACH occasions occur in different time (e.g. subframes or frames), andtransmitting (optionally) the first PRACH configuration to other nodes.These steps may be performed in a first network node 110, e.g. MeNB,etc., for a wireless communication device 121 configured with at leastone serving cell in MCG and is configured or being configured with atleast one serving cell in SCG.

According to a further aspect of the method performed by the firstnetwork node 110 described above, the method may also be described as:obtaining information about a first PRACH configuration for PRACHtransmission in a first serving cell of the wireless communicationdevice 121, wherein the first serving cell is served or managed by theprimary network node, obtaining information about a second PRACHconfiguration for PRACH transmission in a second cell, and configuringthe wireless communication device 121 with the second cell as the secondserving cell of the wireless communication device 121 based on at leastthe relation between the first PRACH configuration and the second PRACHconfiguration. These steps may be performed in a first network node 110,e.g. primary network node, MeNB, etc., for a wireless communicationdevice 121 configured with at least one serving cell in MCG and isconfigured or being configured with at least one serving cell in SCG.

To perform the method actions in a wireless communication device 121 forenabling improved random access transmissions in a radio communicationsnetwork 100, as described above in relation to FIG. 9, the wirelesscommunication device 121 may comprise the following arrangement depictedin FIG. 11. The communication device is configurable for dualconnectivity in a first cell 115 of a first network node 110 and atleast a second cell 116, 117 of at least a second network node 111, 112.

The wireless communication device 121 is configured to, e.g. by means ofa receiving module 1101 being configured to, obtain informationindicating a first random access channel configuration used in the firstcell 115 and obtain information indicating at least a second randomaccess channel configuration used in the at least second cell 116, 117.The receiving module 1101 may also be referred to as a receiver, RX, orreceiving unit. The receiving module 1101 may also be a part of theprocessor 1110, or processing module, of the wireless communicationdevice 121.

The wireless communication device 121 is also configured to, e.g. bymeans of a determining module 1103 being configured to, determinewhether or not the at least second random access channel configurationis orthogonal to the first random access channel configuration. Thedetermining module 1103 may also be a part of the processor 1110, orprocessing module, in the wireless communication device 121.

The wireless communication device 121 is further configured to, e.g. bymeans of a use module 1104 being configured to, use the result of thedetermination to cause a determination of cells used for dualconnectivity and/or an adaptation of the first or at least second randomaccess channel configuration. The use module 1104 may also be a part ofthe processor 1110, or processing module, in the wireless communicationdevice 121.

In some embodiments, the wireless communication device 121 may furtherbe configured to, e.g. by means of a transmitting module 1102 beingconfigured to, transmit information indicating which of the at leastsecond cell 116, 117 may be used for dual connectivity, or transmitinformation indicating that the first or at least second random accesschannel configuration should be adapted, or transmit random accesstransmissions using a third and fourth random access channelconfigurations instead of the first or at least second random accesschannel configuration, which third and fourth random access channelconfigurations are subset to first and at least second random accesschannel configurations respectively and orthogonal to each other. Thetransmitting module 1102 may also be referred to a transmitter, TX, ortransmitting unit. The transmitting module 1102 may also be a part ofthe use module 1104 and/or the processor 1110, or processing module, inthe wireless communication device 121.

To perform the method actions in a first network node 110 for enablingimproved random access transmissions of a wireless communication device121 in a radio communications network 100, as described above inrelation to FIG. 10, the first network node 110 may comprise thefollowing arrangement depicted in FIG. 12. The communication device isconfigurable for dual connectivity in a first cell 115 of a firstnetwork node 110 and at least a second cell 116, 117 of at least asecond network node 111, 112.

The first network node 110 is configured to, e.g. by means of areceiving module 1201 or obtaining module 1203 being configured to,obtain information indicating at least a second random access channelconfiguration used in the at least second cell 116, 117. The receivingmodule 1201 may also be referred to as a receiver, RX, or receivingunit. The receiving module 1201 and the obtaining module 1203 may alsobe a part of a processor 1210, or processing module, in the firstnetwork node 110.

Also, the first network node 110 is configured to, e.g. by means of adetermining module 1204 being configured to, determine whether or notthe at least second random access channel configuration is orthogonal toa first random access channel configuration in the first cell 115. Thedetermining module 1203 may also be a part of the processor 1210, orprocessing module, in the first network node 110.

The first network node 110 is further configured to, e.g. by means of ause module 1205 being configured to, use the result of the determinationto determine the cells that may be used for dual connectivity by thewireless communication device 121 and/or to adapt the first or at leastsecond random access channel configurations. The use module 1204 mayalso be a part of the processor 1210, or processing module, of the firstnetwork node 110.

In some embodiments, the first network node 110 may further beconfigured to, e.g. by means of a transmitting module 1202 beingconfigured to, transmit the first random access channel configuration toat least one of the at least second network node 111, 112 in the radiocommunications network 100. The transmitting module 1202 may also bereferred to a transmitter, TX, or transmitting unit. The transmittingmodule 1202 may also be a part of the processor 1210, or processingmodule, in the first network node 110.

The embodiments for enabling improved random access transmissions in aradio communications network 100 may be implemented through one or moreprocessors, such as, e.g. the processor 1110 in the wirelesscommunication device 121 depicted in FIG. 11 and the processor 1210 inthe network node 110 depicted in FIG. 12, together with computer programcode for performing the functions and actions of the embodimentstherein. The program code mentioned above may also be provided as acomputer program product, for instance in the form of a data carriercarrying computer program code or code means for performing theembodiments herein when being loaded into the processor 1110 in thewireless communication device 121 and the processor 1210 in the networknode 110, respectively. The computer program code may e.g. be providedas pure program code in the wireless communication device 121 and in thenetwork node 110, or on a server and downloaded to the wirelesscommunication device 121 and the network node 110, respectively. Thecarrier may be one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radiosignal, or computer readable storage medium, such as, e.g. electronicmemories like a RAM, a ROM, a Flash memory, a magnetic tape, a CD-ROM, aDVD, a Blueray disc, etc.

The wireless communication device 121 and the network node 110 mayfurther comprise a memory 1120, 1220, respectively, which may bereferred to or comprise one or more memory modules or units. The memory1120, 1220 may be arranged to be used to store executable instructionsand data to perform the methods described herein when being executed inthe wireless communication device 121 and in network node 110,respectively. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that theprocessors 1110, 1210 and their respective memories 1120, 1220 describedabove may refer to a combination of analog and digital circuits, and/orone or more processors configured with software and/or firmware, e.g.stored in the memory 1120, 1220, that when executed by the one or moreprocessors such as the processors 1110, 1210 perform the methods asdescribed above. One or more of the processors 1110, 1210 and theirrespective memories 1120, 1220, as well as the other digital hardware,may be included in a single application-specific integrated circuit(ASIC), or several processors and various digital hardware may bedistributed among several separate components, whether individuallypackaged or assembled into a system-on-a-chip (SoC).

From the above it may be seen that the embodiments may further comprisea computer program product, comprising instructions which, when executedon at least one processor, e.g. the processors 1110, 1210, cause the atleast one processor to carry out the method for enabling improved randomaccess transmissions in a radio communications network 100. Also, someembodiments may, as described above, further comprise a carriercontaining said computer program, wherein the carrier is one of anelectronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or computer readablestorage medium.

The terminology used in the detailed description of the particularembodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings is not intended tobe limiting of the described network node, the communication device ormethods therein.

The following commonly terminologies are used in the embodiments and areelaborated below.

Network Node: In some embodiments a more general term “network node” isused and it may correspond to any type of radio network node or anynetwork node, which communicates with a UE and/or with another networknode. Examples of network nodes are NodeB, base station (BS),multi-standard radio (MSR) radio node such as MSR BS, eNodeB, networkcontroller, radio network controller (RNC), base station controller(BSC), relay, donor node controlling relay, base transceiver station(BTS), access point (AP), transmission points, transmission nodes, RRU,RRH, nodes in distributed antenna system (DAS), core network node (e.g.MSC, MME etc), O&M, OSS, SON, positioning node (e.g. E-SMLC), MDT etc.Further examples of network nodes are NodeB, MeNB, SeNB, a network nodebelonging to MCG or SCG, base station (BS), multi-standard radio (MSR)radio node such as MSR BS, eNodeB, network controller, radio networkcontroller (RNC), base station controller (BSC), relay, donor nodecontrolling relay, base transceiver station (BTS), access point (AP),transmission points, transmission nodes, RRU, RRH, nodes in distributedantenna system (DAS), core network node (e.g. MSC, MME etc), O&M, OSS,SON, positioning node (e.g. E-SMLC), MDT etc.

User Equipment: In some embodiments the non-limiting term user equipment(UE) is used and it refers to any type of wireless device communicatingwith a network node and/or with another UE in a cellular or mobilecommunication system. Examples of UE are target device, device to device(D2D) UE, machine type UE or UE capable of machine to machine (M2M)communication, PDA, iPAD, Tablet, mobile terminals, smart phone, laptopembedded equipped (LEE), laptop mounted equipment (LME), USB donglesetc. Further examples of UEs are target device, device to device (D2D)UE, machine type UE or UE capable of machine to machine (M2M)communication, PDA, PAD, Tablet, mobile terminals, smart phone, laptopembedded equipped (LEE), laptop mounted equipment (LME), USB donglesetc.

PRACH: The term is used throughout the embodiments for random accesstransmissions. However, the PRACH transmission may comprise of any typeof signal sent by the UE on a random access channel. Examples of randomaccess signals are a preamble, Random Access preamble, a sequence ofpre-defined signal, etc.

The embodiments are applicable to single carrier as well as tomulticarrier or carrier aggregation (CA) operation of the UE in whichthe UE is able to receive and/or transmit data to more than one servingcells. The term carrier aggregation (CA) is also called (e.g.interchangeably called) “multi-carrier system”, “multi-cell operation”,“multi-carrier operation”, “multi-carrier” transmission and/orreception. In CA one of the component carriers (CCs) is the primarycomponent carrier (PCC) or simply primary carrier or even anchorcarrier. The remaining ones are called secondary component carrier (SCC)or simply secondary carriers or even supplementary carriers. The servingcell is interchangeably called as primary cell (PCell) or primaryserving cell (PSC). Similarly the secondary serving cell isinterchangeably called as secondary cell (SCell) or secondary servingcell (SSC).

The embodiments are described for LTE. However the embodiments areapplicable to any RAT or multi-RAT systems, where the UE receives and/ortransmit signals (e.g. data) e.g. LTE FDD/TDD, WCDMA/HSPA, GSM/GERAN, WiFi, WLAN, CDMA2000 etc. It is straight-forward to extend the concepts toFDD-FDD inter-band, or TDD-TDD inter-band or TDD intra-band, or to acombination of FDD and TDD inter-band carriers. The descriptions arealso equally applicable to more than one SeNBs. In this IvD, we mentionPSCell as the Secondary PCell, meaning the cell in the SeNB withPCell-type structure. In some literature, this is also mentioned asPUCCH Scell, since this is SCell that carrier PUCCH. In some literature,this is also notified as Primary SCell, since the main SCell in SeNBwhich has PCell type behavior and structure.

Furthermore, one object of embodiments herein is to improve randomaccess transmissions in a radio communications network. Variousexemplary embodiments are set out in the following statements:

According to a first statement, the object may be achieved by a methodperformed by a communication device for enabling improved random accesstransmissions in a radio communications network. The communicationdevice is configurable for dual connectivity in a first cell of a firstnetwork node and at least a second cell of at least a second networknode. The communication device obtains information indicating a firstrandom access channel configuration used in the first cell. Also, thecommunication device obtains information indicating at least a secondrandom access channel configuration used in the at least second cell.Then, the communication device determine whether or not the at leastsecond random access channel configuration is orthogonal to the firstrandom access channel configuration. Furthermore, the communicationdevice uses the result of the determination to cause a determination ofcells used for dual connectivity and/or an adaptation of the first or atleast second random access channel configuration.

It should be noted that the first random access channel configurationand the at least second random access channel configuration may bedetermined as orthogonal when random access transmissions according tothe first random access channel configuration does not overlap in timewith random access transmissions according at least second random accesschannel configuration, i.e. the first and the second random accesschannel configurations are orthogonal with respect to each other iftheir respective random access occasions occur in different timeresources.

In some embodiments, the communication device may transmit to the firstnetwork node and/or the at least second network node, informationindicating which of the first and at least second cell may be used fordual connectivity based on the determination. In this case, the cells ofthe first and at least second cell which may be used for dualconnectivity may be determined by the communication device based on thesignal quality of the cells at the communication device (e.g. thelargest RSRQ measured by the communication device) and/or on when thenext random access transmissions occurs in respective cell. Furthermore,in this case, the information may further indicate which cells of thefirst and at least second cell may be used as the primary cell, PCell,for the communication device when operating in dual connectivity, andwhich cells of the first and at least second cell may be used assecondary cell, SCell, for the communication device when operating indual connectivity.

In some embodiments, the communication device may transmit to the firstnetwork node and/or the at least second network node, informationindicating that the first or at least second random access channelconfiguration should be adapted based on the determination. In thiscase, the transmission may be performed based on expected or occurredfailures or delays of random access transmissions by the communicationdevice using the first or at least second random access channelconfigurations. Furthermore, the information may further indicatestatistical information based on expected or occurred failures or delaysof random access transmissions by the communication device using thefirst or at least second random access channel configuration.Optionally, the information may comprise an explicit request to thefirst network node and/or the at least second network node to change thefirst or at least second random access channel configuration such thatthe first and at least second random access channel configurations areorthogonal with respect to each other.

In some embodiments, the communication device may transmit random accesstransmissions using a third and at least fourth random access channelconfiguration instead of the first or at least second random accesschannel configuration, which third and at least fourth random accesschannel configuration are subset to first and at least second randomaccess channel configuration respectively and orthogonal to each other.

In some embodiments, the communication device may determine whether ornot the transmission power that is available for simultaneous randomaccess transmissions using the first and/or at least second randomaccess channel configuration is below a determined threshold. In casethe available transmission power is below the determined threshold,perform orthogonal random access transmissions using the third and atleast fourth random access channel configuration.

In some embodiments, the communication device may transmit the thirdand/or at least fourth random access channel configuration to the firstnetwork node and/or the at least second network node.

According to a second statement, the object may be achieved by a methodperformed by a first network node for enabling improved random accesstransmissions of a communication device in a radio communicationsnetwork. The communication device is configurable for dual connectivityin a first cell of the first network node and at least a second cell ofat least a second network node. The first network node obtainsinformation indicating at least a second random access channelconfiguration used in the at least second cell. Then, the first networknode determines whether or not the at least second random access channelconfiguration is orthogonal to a first random access channelconfiguration in the first cell. Furthermore, the first network nodeuses the result of the determination to determine the cells that may beused for dual connectivity by the communication device and/or to adaptthe first or at least second random access channel configurations.

It should be noted that the first random access channel configurationand the at least second random access channel configuration may bedetermined as orthogonal when random access transmissions from thecommunication device according to the first random access channelconfiguration does not overlap in time with random access transmissionsfrom the communication device according at least second random accesschannel configuration, i.e. the first and the second random accesschannel configurations are orthogonal with respect to each other iftheir respective random access occasions occur in different timeresources.

In some embodiments, the information may indicate a subframe and/or aframe timing used in the at least second cell for random accesstransmissions. In some embodiments, the first network node may obtainthe information by one or more of: retrieving the information frompredetermined information accessible to, or stored in, the first networknode; receiving the information from the at least second network node;and receiving the information from the communication device.

In some embodiments, the first network node may determine the firstrandom access channel configuration for the communication device to beused in the first cell such that it is orthogonal to the at least secondrandom access channel configuration. This may, for example, be performedwhen the at least second cell is the primary cell, PCell, for thecommunication device when operating in dual connectivity and the firstcell is a secondary cell, PSCell, for the communication device whenoperating in dual connectivity. Optionally, this may be performed whenthe at least second cell belongs to a first type of power classificationand the first cell belongs to a second type of power classification.

In some embodiments, the first network node may determine that the atleast second cell may be used by the communication device in dualconnectivity when the at least second random access channelconfiguration is orthogonal to the first random access channelconfiguration. This may, for example, be performed when the first cellis the primary cell, PCell, for the communication device when operatingin dual connectivity and the at least second cell is a secondary cell,PSCell, for the communication device when operating in dualconnectivity. Here, the first network node may further determine thatthe at least second cell is to be used by the communication device for adual connectivity operation, and transmitting, to the communicationdevice, information indicating that the communication device is toconfigure and activate the at least second cell for a dual connectivityoperation.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, the first network node may, whendetermining that more than one cell may be used by the communicationdevice for a dual connectivity operation, further determine that one ofthe at least second cell is to be the primary secondary cell for a dualconnectivity operation based on a criteria. The criteria may, forexample, comprise selecting the cell of the at least second cell thathas the highest/strongest signal quality or the least load (e.g. lowestmean transmit power and/or lowest number of served communicationdevices).

In some embodiments, the first network node may transmit the firstrandom access channel configuration to at least one of the at leastsecond network node in the radio communications network. In this case,the first random access channel configuration may be transmitted as partof a request to at least one of the at least second network node toadapt the at least a second random access channel configuration to beorthogonal to the first random access channel configuration.

According to a third and fourth statement, the object may be achieved bya wireless communication device and a first network node for performingthe methods described above, respectively.

By having a first network node or communication device configured asdescribed in the statements above, it may be ensured that the randomaccess configurations in a primary cell, PCell, and a secondary cell,PSCell, of the communication device are orthogonal with respect to eachother, i.e. their random access occasions are non-overlapping in time.Alternatively, it may be ensured that the communication device isselected and configured with those PCell and PSCell whose random accessconfigurations are orthogonal with respect to each other. According toanother alternative, the communication device may recommend a set ofcells as potential PCell and PSCell whose random access configurationsare orthogonal with respect to each other. Hence, random accesstransmissions in the radio communications network are improved.

An advantage of having a network node or communication device configuredas described in the statements above is that the communication devicewill not have to send two RA transmissions in the same subframes. Thismay be very advantageous and beneficial in power limited cases. Also,this could avoid random access transmissions while PSCell is beingactivated or deactivated.

As used herein, the term “and/or” comprises any and all combinations ofone or more of the associated listed items.

Further, as used herein, the common abbreviation “e.g.”, which derivesfrom the Latin phrase “exempli gratia,” may be used to introduce orspecify a general example or examples of a previously mentioned item,and is not intended to be limiting of such item. If used herein, thecommon abbreviation “i.e.”, which derives from the Latin phrase “idest,” may be used to specify a particular item from a more generalrecitation. The common abbreviation “etc.”, which derives from the Latinexpression “et cetera” meaning “and other things” or “and so on” mayhave been used herein to indicate that further features, similar to theones that have just been enumerated, exist.

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended tocomprise also the plural forms as well, unless expressly statedotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,”“comprises,” “including” and/or “comprising,” when used in thisspecification, specify the presence of stated features, actions,integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do notpreclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,actions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/orgroups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms comprising technical and scientificterms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one ofordinary skill in the art to which the described embodiments belongs. Itwill be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonlyused dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art andwill not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unlessexpressly so defined herein.

The embodiments herein are not limited to the above described preferredembodiments. Various alternatives, modifications and equivalents may beused. Therefore, the above embodiments should not be construed aslimiting.

ABBREVIATIONS

-   MeNB Master eNode B-   SeNB Secondary eNode B-   PSCell Primary SCell-   PCC Primary component carrier-   PCI Physical cell identity-   PSS Primary synchronization signal-   RAT Radio Access Technology-   RRC Radio resource control-   RSCP Received signal code power-   RSRP Reference Signal Received Power-   RSRQ Reference Signal Received Quality-   RSSI Received signal strength indication-   SCC Secondary component carrier-   SIB System information block-   SON Self-organizing networks-   SSS Secondary synchronization signal-   TDD Time division duplex-   UARFCN UMTS Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number-   HO Handover-   UE User equipment-   RNC Radio Network Controller-   BSC Base station Controller-   PCell Primary Cell-   SCell Secondary Cell-   PRACH Physical random access channel-   RACH Random Access Channel

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method performed by a communicationdevice for enabling improved random access transmissions in a radiocommunications network, the communication device being configurable fordual connectivity in a first cell of a first network node and at least asecond cell of at least a second network node, the method comprising:obtaining information indicating a first random access channelconfiguration used in the first cell; obtaining information indicatingat least a second random access channel configuration used in the atleast second cell; determining whether or not the at least second randomaccess channel configuration is orthogonal to the first random accesschannel configuration; when it is determined that the at least secondrandom access channel configuration is orthogonal to the first randomaccess channel configuration: using a first timing configuration todetermine a first time required by the communication device to configurethe at least second cell; and when it is determined that the at leastsecond random access channel configuration is not orthogonal to thefirst random access channel configuration: using a second timingconfiguration different from the first timing configuration to determinea second time required by the communication device to configure the atleast second cell.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first timerequired by the communication device to configure the at least secondcell when a result of the determining is that the second random accesschannel configuration is orthogonal to the first random access channelconfiguration is shorter than the second time required by thecommunication device to configure the at least second cell when a resultof the determining is that the second random access channelconfiguration is not orthogonal to the first random access channelconfiguration.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein when a result of thedetermining is that the second random access channel configuration isorthogonal to the first random access channel configuration: the firsttime required by the communication device to configure the at leastsecond cell does not include a time to perform random access on thefirst cell; and when the result of the determining is that the secondrandom access channel configuration is not orthogonal to the firstrandom access channel configuration: the second time required by thecommunication device to configure the at least second cell includes thetime to perform random access on the first cell.
 4. The method of claim1, wherein the first time and the second time required by thecommunication device to configure the at least second cell aredetermined by the communication device based on a pre-defined rule. 5.The method of claim 1, wherein the first random access channelconfiguration and the at least second random access channelconfiguration are orthogonal with respect to each other when randomaccess transmissions from the communication device according to thefirst random access channel configuration do not overlap in time withrandom access transmissions from the communication device according toat least second random access channel configuration.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the first cell belongs to a Master Cell Group, MCG, andthe second cell belongs to a Secondary Cell Group, SCG.
 7. Acommunication device for enabling improved random access transmissionsin a radio communications network, the communication device beingconfigurable for dual connectivity in a first cell of a first networknode and at least a second cell of at least a second network node, thecommunication device being configured to: obtain information indicatinga first random access channel configuration used in the first cell;obtain information indicating at least a second random access channelconfiguration used in the at least second cell; determine whether or notthe at least second random access channel configuration is orthogonal tothe first random access channel configuration; when it is determinedthat the at least second random access channel configuration isorthogonal to the first random access channel configuration: use a firsttiming configuration to determine a first time required by thecommunication device to configure the at least second cell; and when itis determined that the at least second random access channelconfiguration is not orthogonal to the first random access channelconfiguration: use a second timing configuration different from thefirst timing configuration to determine a second time required by thecommunication device to configure the at least second cell.
 8. Thecommunication device of claim 7, wherein the first time required by thecommunication device to configure the at least second cell when a resultof the determining is that the second random access channelconfiguration is orthogonal to the first random access channelconfiguration is shorter than the second time required by thecommunication device to configure the at least second cell when a resultof the determining is that the second random access channelconfiguration is not orthogonal to the first random access channelconfiguration.
 9. The communication device of claim 7, wherein when aresult of the determining is that the second random access channelconfiguration is orthogonal to the first random access channelconfiguration: the first time is required by the communication device toconfigure the at least second cell does not include a time to performrandom access on the first cell; and when the result of the determiningis that the second random access channel configuration is not orthogonalto the first random access channel configuration: the second time isrequired by the communication device to configure the at least secondcell includes the time to perform random access on the first cell. 10.The communication device of claim 7, wherein the communication device isconfigured to determine the first time and the second time required bythe communication device to configure the at least second cell based ona pre-defined rule.
 11. The communication device of claim 7, wherein thefirst random access channel configuration and the at least second randomaccess channel configuration are orthogonal when random accesstransmissions from the communication device according to the firstrandom access channel configuration do not overlap in time with randomaccess transmissions from the communication device according at leastsecond random access channel configuration.
 12. The communication deviceof claim 7, further comprising a processor and a memory, wherein thememory contains instructions executable by the processor to: obtaininformation indicating the first random access channel configurationused in the first cell; obtain information indicating at least thesecond random access channel configuration used in the at least secondcell; determine whether or not the at least second random access channelconfiguration is orthogonal to the first random access channelconfiguration; when it is determined that the at least second randomaccess channel configuration is orthogonal to the first random accesschannel configuration: use a first timing configuration to determine afirst time required by the communication device to configure the atleast second cell; and when it is determined that the at least secondrandom access channel configuration is not orthogonal to the firstrandom access channel configuration: use a second timing configurationdifferent from the first timing configuration to determine a second timerequired by the communication device to configure the at least secondcell.
 13. A method performed by a first network node for enablingimproved random access transmissions of a communication device in aradio communications network, the communication device beingconfigurable for dual connectivity in a first cell of the first networknode and at least a second cell of at least a second network node, themethod comprising: obtaining information indicating at least a secondrandom access channel configuration used in the at least second cell;determining whether or not the at least second random access channelconfiguration is orthogonal to a first random access channelconfiguration in the first cell; when it is determined that the at leastsecond random access channel configuration is orthogonal to the firstrandom access channel configuration: using a first timing configurationto determine a first time required by the communication device toconfigure the at least second cell; and when it is determined that theat least second random access channel configuration is not orthogonal tothe first random access channel configuration: using a second timingconfiguration different from the first timing configuration to determinea second time required by the communication device to configure the atleast second cell.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first timerequired by the communication device to configure the at least secondcell when a result of the determining is that the second random accesschannel configuration is orthogonal to the first random access channelconfiguration is shorter than the second time required by thecommunication device to configure the at least second cell when a resultof the determining is that the second random access channelconfiguration is not orthogonal to the first random access channelconfiguration.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein when a result of thedetermining is that the second random access channel configuration isorthogonal to the first random access channel configuration: the firsttime required by the communication device to configure the at leastsecond cell does not include a time to perform random access on thefirst cell; and when the result of the determining is that the secondrandom access channel configuration is not orthogonal to the firstrandom access channel configuration: the second time is required by thecommunication device to configure the at least second cell includes thetime to perform random access on the first cell.
 16. The method of claim13, wherein the first time and the second time required by thecommunication device to configure the at least second cell aredetermined by the first network node based on a pre-defined rule. 17.The method of claim 13, wherein the first random access channelconfiguration and the at least second random access channelconfiguration are orthogonal with respect to each other when randomaccess transmissions from the communication device according to thefirst random access channel configuration do not overlap in time withrandom access transmissions from the communication device according toat least second random access channel configuration.
 18. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the first cell belongs to a Master Cell Group, MCG,and the second cell belongs to a Secondary Cell Group, SCG.
 19. A firstnetwork node for enabling improved random access transmissions of acommunication device in a radio communications network, thecommunication device being configurable for dual connectivity in a firstcell of the first network node and at least a second cell of at least asecond network node, the first network node being configured to: obtaininformation indicating at least a second random access channelconfiguration used in the at least second cell; determine whether or notthe at least second random access channel configuration is orthogonal toa first random access channel configuration in the first cell; when itis determined that the at least second random access channelconfiguration is orthogonal to the first random access channelconfiguration: use a first timing configuration to determine a firsttime required by the communication device to configure the at leastsecond cell; and when it is determined that the at least second randomaccess channel configuration is not orthogonal to the first randomaccess channel configuration: use a second timing configurationdifferent from the first timing configuration to determine a second timerequired by the communication device to configure the at least second.20. The first network node of claim 19, wherein the first time requiredby the communication device to configure the at least second cell when aresult of the determining is that the second random access channelconfiguration is orthogonal to the first random access channelconfiguration is shorter than the second time required by thecommunication device to configure the at least second cell when a resultof the determining is that the second random access channelconfiguration is not orthogonal to the first random access channelconfiguration.
 21. The first network node of claim 19, wherein when aresult of the determining is that the second random access channelconfiguration is orthogonal to the first random access channelconfiguration: the first time required by the communication device toconfigure the at least second cell does not include a time to performrandom access on the first cell; and when the result of the determiningis that the second random access channel configuration is not orthogonalto the first random access channel configuration: the second timerequired by the communication device to configure the at least secondcell includes the time to perform random access on the first cell. 22.The first network node of claim 19, wherein the first network node isconfigured to determine the first time and the second time required bythe communication device to configure the at least second cell based ona pre-defined rule.
 23. The first network node of claim 19, wherein thefirst random access channel configuration and the at least second randomaccess channel configuration are orthogonal when random accesstransmissions from the communication device according to the firstrandom access channel configuration do not overlap in time with randomaccess transmissions from the communication device according at leastsecond random access channel configuration.
 24. The first network nodeof claim 19, further comprising a processor and a memory, wherein thememory contains instructions executable by the processor to: obtain theinformation indicating at least the second random access channelconfiguration used in the at least second cell; determine whether or notthe at least second random access channel configuration is orthogonal tothe first random access channel configuration in the first cell; when itis determined that the at least second random access channelconfiguration is orthogonal to the first random access channelconfiguration: use a first timing configuration to determine a firsttime required by the communication device to configure the at leastsecond cell; and when it is determined that the at least second randomaccess channel configuration is not orthogonal to the first randomaccess channel configuration: use a second timing configurationdifferent from the first timing configuration to determine a second timerequired by the communication device to configure the at least secondcell.
 25. A non-transitory computer readable medium, comprisinginstructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause theat least one processor to carry out a method on a communication devicefor enabling improved random access transmissions in a radiocommunications network, the communication device being configurable fordual connectivity in a first cell of a first network node and at least asecond cell of at least a second network node, the method comprising:obtaining information indicating a first random access channelconfiguration used in the first cell; obtaining information indicatingat least a second random access channel configuration used in the atleast second cell; determining whether or not the at least second randomaccess channel configuration is orthogonal to the first random accesschannel configuration; when it is determined that the at least secondrandom access channel configuration is orthogonal to the first randomaccess channel configuration: using a first timing configuration todetermine a first time required by the communication device to configurethe at least second cell; and when it is determined that the at leastsecond random access channel configuration is not orthogonal to thefirst random access channel configuration: using a second timingconfiguration different from the first timing configuration to determinea second time required by the communication device to configure the atleast second cell.
 26. A non-transitory computer readable medium,comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor,cause the at least one processor to carry out a method on a firstnetwork node for enabling improved random access transmissions of acommunication device in a radio communications network, thecommunication device being configurable for dual connectivity in a firstcell of the first network node and at least a second cell of at least asecond network node, the method comprising: obtaining informationindicating at least a second random access channel configuration used inthe at least second cell; determining whether or not the at least secondrandom access channel configuration is orthogonal to a first randomaccess channel configuration in the first cell; when it is determinedthat the at least second random access channel configuration isorthogonal to the first random access channel configuration: using afirst timing configuration to determine a first time required by thecommunication device to configure the at least second cell; and when itis determined that the at least second random access channelconfiguration is not orthogonal to the first random access channelconfiguration: using a second timing configuration different from thefirst timing configuration to determine a second time required by thecommunication device to configure the at least second cell.